Scots pay out to avoid NHS waiting lists

A Scotland on Sunday survey has found that 8,500 patients in Scotland without private medical insurance paid for private treatment rather than face the long queues for NHS treatment.

The self-funded operations cost an average of almost £3,000, with a total of £25 million expended from private money and savings accounts . The somewhat surprisingly high figures are due to long NHS waits of up to a year for a variety of surgical procedures that include knee operations and hernias.

The findings, gleaned from a report by the private hospital sector, are causing consternation amongst politicians and patient groups, particularly when considered as part of a much larger overall trend. When patients, many of whom have paid national insurance and tax for decades, have to fund their own surgery, questions must be asked.

An expert from the Scottish Independent Hospital Association said: The self-funding market has grown to account for 23% of all private acute hospital treatment in Scotland. Patients seem to be looking for alternatives to the NHS and it is much easier for people to access private healthcare now.

Private healthcare is no longer deemed the preserve of the elite, with more patients choosing either private health insurance cover or paying up-front.